Von Miller (58) of the Denver Broncos runs back to the sidelines after a sack in the fourth quarter. The Denver Broncos played the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Feb. 7, 2016. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)

It’s Miller time. Carolina double-teamed Von Miller on its first possession. But he stunted twice and pulled back, and his blockers stood with nothing to do. On the Panthers’ next possession, tight end Ed Dickson showed double-team, then left Miller alone. So Miller blew by lineman Mike Remmers to create a fumble and a Denver touchdown.

Home away from home. Super Bowl crowds usually are a “wine and cheese” set and not very engaged. But the crowd Sunday at Levi’s Stadium appeared to be 80 percent Broncos fans clad in orange. They were very loud.

Very special. Kayvon Webster stuffed Carolina for a 1-yard loss on a punt return. Jordan Norwood returned a punt 61 yards. Brandon McManus hit all of his kicks. Denver special teams got an A grade. Read more…

Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware and quarterback Peyton Manning addressed the team on the eve of Super Bowl 50. (Steve Nehf, The Denver Post)

On the eve of the biggest annual American sports game, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak turned to his most respected veterans to deliver speeches, once more with feeling. After Kubiak addressed the team — stressing how much he loved the group, which began last January with personalized calls to every player — quarterback Peyton Manning took the floor.

Manning, 39, has given countless speeches in his life from graduations to sporting events. This one held special significance since it came in advance of potentially his final game. Manning’s speech, from those who heard it, was characterized as emotional, humorous and spiritual. There was no retirement announcement, though players aren’t naive.

Denver fans cheer on the Broncos at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos played the Patriots in the AFC championship game at in Denver on January 24, 2016. (Sara Grant, The Denver Post)

The Denver Broncos have their ticket stamped to Super Bowl 50, and some may say home field advantage and Broncos Country had something to do with it. Sports Authority Field at Mile High was literally shaking Sunday from the stomps, cheers and jumps of fans decked out in orange, complete with pompoms left on seats of game goers for full United in Orange distraction of TB12 and crew.

The best and worst from the Broncos’ 20-18 win against New England in their AFC championship game on Sunday…

BEST

Miller puts heat on Brady. A master of all roles Sunday, Broncos linebacker Von Miller freelanced from all over the field. He intercepted a Tom Brady pass in the second quarter when he stretched out in front of tight end Rob Gronkowski. Miller was credited with 2½ sacks. One came deep in Patriots territory in the third quarter. He also hurried Brady on four throws.

Prowling Brady. Derek Wolfe’s sack of Brady in the first quarter helped force a three-and-out, setting the tone for a dominating performance by the Denver defense. And Wolfe knocked down a Brady throw to force a punt.

Manning’s mobility. Manning’s 12-yard scramble on a third-and-10 play in the third quarter was the Broncos’ longest run of the game to that point. Read more…

Quarterback Peyton Manning (18) of the Denver Broncos warms up on the field prior to the start of the game. The Denver Broncos played the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Jan. 24, 2015. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Peyton Manning to Owen Daniels. Again.

The Broncos quarterback targeted the tight end for a 12-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to give Denver a 14-0 lead Sunday over the Patriots in the AFC championship game.

Quarterback Peyton Manning (18) of the Denver Broncos warms up on the field prior to the start of the game. The Denver Broncos played the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Jan. 24, 2015. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Demaryius Thomas (88) of the Denver Broncos leaves the field after warmups. The Denver Broncos played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Jan. 17, 2016. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Thomas tops list. Demaryius Thomas, playing with his mom in the crowd for the first time in his career, made her proud. His reception in the fourth quarter set a Broncos record for most postseason catches with 50. His 739 receiving yards ranks second in Denver’s playoff history behind Rod Smith’s 860.

Manning errorless. Manning, who led the NFL in interceptions before Brock Osweiler took over in November, protected the ball like his PIN password. It was just his second game this season without an interception, his first as a starter.

McPerfect. Brandon McManus, much maligned after his wild hook against the Bengals three weeks ago, was 5-for-5 on field goals on a windy day, including a 51-yarder in the second quarter.

WORSTS

Dropped passes. If Broncos fans chanted IN-COM-PLETE for their own team, they would have been hoarse by halftime. Denver receivers dropped seven passes from Peyton Manning, including six in the first half. No team in the NFL had more dropped passes in a game this season. Emmanuel Sanders and Bennie Fowler dropped two apiece; C.J. Anderson, Demaryius Thomas and Ronnie Hillman also dropped one.

Third-and-done. Dropped passes didn’t help on third down, when the Broncos failed so often to move the sticks and generated momentum. They didn’t convert a second third down until a scoring drive late in the fourth quarter. Denver finished 3-for-15 on third down conversions.

Playing it safe. How wildly different would the game have turned if the Broncos had not settled for a field goal on fourth-and-1 from Pittsburgh’s 10 yard line on their first drive?

Grades

Offense: C-
Brandon McManus accounted all the Broncos’ points through the third quarter as the offense struggled to find its rhythm, and the end zone. The Broncos had seven drops (six in the first half) and were 3-of-15 on third downs, but were given a break when the defense forced a fumble in the fourth quarter. C.J. Anderson capped the ensuing drive with the game-winning, one-yard touchdown run, and Demaryius Thomas sealed it with a two-point conversion. Peyton Manning finished 21-of-37 for 222 yards.

Defense: B+
Miscommunication in the early going led to wide-open, deep catches for Pittsburgh, who racked up 133 yards in the first quarter, the most allowed in that quarter by the Broncos this season. But the defense came through when it counted most, with a forced fumble by Bradley Roby and recovery by DeMarcus Ware to set up the game-winning drive. Ware had a sack late in the game, one of three by the defense.

Special Teams: A
Omar Bolden returned a punt 42 yards to help set up a field goal by McManus in the first quarter, and Kayvon Webster later kept a Broncos kickoff from going into the end zone for a 17-yard saving in yardage. McManus set a team playoff record with his five field goals and, in coverage, the Broncos allowed only 20 yards on four punt returns by Pittsburgh.

Coaching: B-
This game was the Broncos to lose, with Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger playing with a hurt shoulder, and the Steelers playing without their leading receiver and running back. And the Broncos almost did lose it. But a big play — courtesy of Roby and Ware — gave the Broncos a chance to redeem themselves and advance. The inefficiency on offense deserves attention in the coming week, though.

Game balls

Brandon McManus. The Broncos’ kicker set a team record for most field goals in a playoff game, at five. His 51-yarder tied Jason Elam for the second-longest by a Bronco in a playoff game.

DeMarcus Ware. The veteran outside linebacker recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter to set up the game-winning drive, then sacked Roethlisberger on Pittsburgh’s subsequent drive.

Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman (23) celebrates his touchdown with Denver Broncos running back C.J. Anderson (22) during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers on Jan. 3, 2016 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium. (Helen Richardson, The Denver Post)

Record-setting day. Demaryius Thomas has had his bouts with drops this season, but Sunday he joined Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison as the only wide receivers with four consecutive seasons with 90 catches, at least 1,300 yards and five touchdowns. On Sunday, Thomas had five catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. He had his 32nd 100-yard receiving game, surpassing Rod Smith for the most in franchise history.

Backs run wild. Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson combined for a season-high 210 rushing yards. Hillman led the team with 15 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown.

“D” starts strong. The Broncos held San Diego to 93 yards and six points in the first half while the offense was turning the ball over four times.

WORSTS

Turnovers galore. After the opening touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, the Broncos gave the ball up on three consecutive possessions in Chargers territory. On five of their next eight possessions, Denver’s drives ended with either a fumble or an interception.

Offensive line woes. The line allowed only two sacks, but Chargers pressure contributed to a Brock Osweiler interception and several errant throws. OT Michael Schofield was benched for Tyler Polumbus in the third quarter. Read more…

Demaryius Thomas (88) of the Denver Broncos crosses the goal line for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Denver Broncos played the San Diego Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Jan. 3, 2016. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

The Denver Broncos wasted no time to get their offense rolling.

On the second play of the game, Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler connected with Demaryius Thomas for a 72-yard touchdown pass Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

The score gave Denver a 7-0 lead with the extra point. If the Broncos win, they will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Brock Osweiler scrambles out of the pocket for a gain Monday night. He played through an injured left shoulder and elbow. “I am not a special case,” Osweiler said. “Everybody is banged up. I will be ready to go.” (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Players deliver snapshots. Quarterbacks provide signature moments. The position demands it. It is the hub of the the NFL’s universe. You can’t win without a quarterback who, um, can’t win.

In a raw, bitterly cold Monday night, Brock Osweiler grew up. He boasts strong games, but what transpired against the Bengals provided hope for the playoffs and stability at the most opportune time. The Broncos clinched a playoff berth on Monday. They can secure their fifth straight AFC West crown and a bye with a home win over San Diego in the season finale.

“Nothing has changed with Brock. If something would change, the players would know first and you (the media) would know second,” said coach Gary Kubiak, repeating what he has said for the past three weeks.

Kubiak is expected to meet with Peyton Manning on Tuesday to map out a plan this week which should include practice and potential availability for the season finale against San Diego. Kubiak has handled this situation deftly, giving Osweiler confidence while showing proper respect to Manning.

AJ McCarron has played safe, if unspectacular, football for the Bengals since taking over at quarterback for the injured Andy Dalton. He’s like Brock Osweiler’s double. They might not be world-beaters. But both backups aren’t messing up.

The Bengals on Monday night went a full four quarters without a turnover… until a game-deciding fumble from McCarron in overtime.

On a second-and-10 from the 33, and trailing by 3, McCarron dropped into a shotgun. He sent A.J. Green in motion. And with the receiver flashing across, the Broncos adjusted their defense. It caught McCarron’s eye. He glanced up to see the switches. And just then, he lost track of the snap. It flew through his fingers and hit his rib protector.

Game over.

“It was my fault. I told the team that,” McCarron said. “I felt like I let the team down.”

It wasn’t only a mistake that did in the Bengals. It was a second half turnaround by the Denver defense.

Demaryius Thomas (88) of the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter. The Denver Broncos played the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Dec. 28, 2015. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Anderson’s run pumped life into team. CJ Anderson’s sprint through the line and snap-cut to the outside for a 39-yard, go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter more than tripled his yardage total to that point. And it gave the Broncos some life with some very much needed running prowess. Anderson had just 12 yards on three rushes before the game-turning run.

Tackling machine. Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan quietly held together Denver’s defense. He nabbed a game-high 10 combined tackles in the first half, more than twice as many as the next nearest player for either team.

Playing it safe. He might not light up your fantasy league, but Brock Osweiler continues to not mess up. He threw only four interceptions in his six previous games and had a clean sheet through three quarters Monday.

WORSTS

Slow first half. Maybe the Broncos heard so much chatter about their second-half ineptness in December that they forgot about the first half. The Bengals dominated it. They ran more than twice as many plays (38 to 16) for nearly three times as much possession (21:14 to 8:46).

Balance bad. Chicken or the egg? Couldn’t set up the pass because the run game stalled? Or vice versa? The Broncos gained only 16 yards on the ground before halftime. And Brock Osweiler threw for a slim 89 yards.

D.T. struggles. Demaryius Thomas, the Broncos’ No. 1 receiver, was a ghost again, with only two catches on four targets in the first half. He had five catches last week at Pittsburgh, his worst showing since catching four passes total in back-to-back games against the Bears and Patriots in November.

Grades

Offense: B-
With little time to work in the first half, the Broncos recorded only 89 net yards and failed to find the end zone in the first 30 minutes. Their scoring woes ended with an 8-yard touchdown catch by Emmanuel Sanders in the third quarter and a 39-yard rushing touchdown by C.J. Anderson in the fourth. Brock Osweiler finished 27-of-39 for 299 yards, one touchdown and three sacks.

Defense: A-
The defense’s challenge was obvious on the opening drive, when the Bengals marched 80 yards on a 15-play scoring drive, the longest against the Broncos this season. In the first half alone, Cincinnati amassed 204 net yards and went 7-of-8 on third downs. Things changed in the final three periods (overtime included) as the Bengals picked up only 90 net yards and DeMarcus Ware sealed the victory with his fumble recovery.

Special teams: B
Britton Colquitt’s first punt, in the first quarter, was returned only 1 yard, thanks to a big tackle by Shaquil Barrett. Kayvon Webster delivered another big special-teams tackle in the fourth quarter that resulted in a loss of 3 yards on a punt return for Cincinnati. All told, the Broncos allowed an average of 7 yards on kick and punt returns. Brandon McManus’ badly missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt in the fourth, but he recovered to make 37-yarder in OT.

Coaching: B-
Much of the talk coming out of Dove Valley the past few weeks was about the Broncos’ second-half offensive struggles. The script was flipped Monday when the defense appeared unprepared for the Bengals in the first half and the Denver offense came alive in the second, punching the Broncos’ ticket to the postseason.

Game balls

Emmanuel Sanders. He caught a 35-yard pass in the first half to reach 1,000 receiving yards on the season, then caught an 8-yard touchdown pass for the Broncos’ first third-quarter points since Nov. 8.

DeMarcus Ware. His fumble recovery on a Bengals second-and-10 in overtime sealed the Broncos’ victory.

Brock Osweiler (17) of the Denver Broncos scrambles out of the pocket in the first quarter. The Denver Broncos played the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on Dec. 28, 2015. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

It’s been rough for the Broncos’ offense in the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals, to say the least.

But late in the second quarter, quarterback Brock Osweiler was able to connect on a 35-yard pass to Emmanuel Sanders to put the Broncos in striking distance.

Emmanuel Sanders (10) of the Denver Broncos makes a first-down reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of play at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Denver Broncos on Dec. 20, 2015. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

One bright spot for Denver in the Broncos’ 34-27 loss to Pittsburgh was the play of receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

Sanders, 28, caught 10 passes for a career-high 181 yards and a touchdown. It was his 11th 100-plus yards game of his career, all of which have been with the Broncos. He spent four years with Pittsburgh before joining Denver.

Homecoming career day. Emmanuel Sanders said he wasn’t sure how he would feel Sunday when he walked into Heinz Field for the first time as a visitor. He played like he had something to prove. Sanders caught 10 passes for a career-high 181 yards and a touchdown. Sanders had his 11th 100-plus yard receiving game with Denver. He had zero such games in four seasons with Pittsburgh.

Cha-ching. Defensive end Malik Jackson has been one of the Broncos’ best players all season. He added two sacks and two tackles for a loss Sunday. Jackson, an impending free agent, is making himself a lot of money.

One-dimensional. The Broncos held running back DeAngelo Williams to 14 carries for 26 yards, while forcing Ben Roethlisberger to throw 55 passes.

Peyton Manning signed autographs for fans at Heinz Field on Sunday. (Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)

Memorable moments follow in the wake of special seasons. The Broncos need the No Fly Zone to leave an indelible footprint Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers rank fifth in passing with 284.4 yards per game. That only tells part of the story. Ben Roethlisberger is averaging 363 yards over the past five games. Denver’s secondary hasn’t allowed a 300-yard passer this season. So you see where this is going.

The Broncos must win this matchup even without safeties T.J. Ward (ankle) and Darian Stewart (hamstring). Their aggressiveness gives the defense a snarl, and will be missed. Cornerback Chris Harris must minimize Antonio Brown’s impact. He might be the most slippery receiver in the league. Aqib Talib must prevent chunk plays from Martavis Bryant. And somehow with David Bruton hurting, the Broncos need to figure out how to slow reliable tight end Heath Miller. That means — gulp — Shiloh Keo could play significant snaps. He tried to do too much last Sunday and bit on a double move that led to the Raiders’ go-ahead touchdown.

If the Broncos pull this off, it will be their most impressive win of the season and historic. The Broncos are attempting to post their seventh road victory, a single-season record.

And now onto the keys. Almost. Funny scene before the game. Peyton Manning, who is inactive on Sunday, signed more than 100 autographs. He signed for Broncos and Steelers fans on tickets, jereys and caps. Just not on Terrible Towels. He dropped one and moved on everytime someone hung it over the ledge behind the Broncos’ bench. It was oddly fantastic in a Seinfeld “No Soup For You” kind of way.

Again, the keys:

Let it rip, Brock
Brock Osweiler hasn’t led the offense to a touchdown in 23 straight possessions. He has become too reliant on short passes. To beat the Steelers, Denver must score three touchdowns. That’s not going to happen with dinks and dunks. Pittsburgh’s secondary is vulnerable. Success hinges on taking chances deep, particularly in the seam to Vernon Davis. It could lead to picks. But the Broncos aren’t winning with checkdowns. If that’s who Osweiler is, the choice to return to Manning, if healthy, becomes easy.

Run for it
The only way the Steelers will bite on the deep pass is if the Broncos can run enough to keep them honest. C.J. Anderson’s return helps the red zone running game and overall pass protection. The Broncos established a season-low with 34 yards rushing last week. If they have less than 100 on Sunday, there’s little chance they win.

Unleash the fury
Back to the secondary. Of course, they have to play well. The chances of the secondary producing a big play, big pick or even a defensive score depends on a maniacal pass rush. Von Miller has a sack in five straight games. Can he make it six straight with a hit that leads to an early pick?

Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) celebrates a sack with Derek Wolfe (95) in the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 13, 2015 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium. (Steve Nehf, The Denver Post)

Strong start. The Broncos’ defense had a historic performance in the first half, holding the Raiders to minus-12 yards on six offensive drives. A combination of pass rush, great coverage and smothering run defense was on display. The Broncos’ defense gave up 13 points, but one touchdown was the result of being placed in bad field position due to a muffed punt.

Locking down the youngster. Cornerbacks Chris Harris and Aqib Talib shut down receiver Amari Cooper, who came into the game leading all rookies in receiving yards. Cooper had zero catches on eight targets.

Sack master. Von Miller notched sack No. 10 on the season in the first-half, leading to one of his famous dances. He has been on a roll lately.

Von Miller (58) of the Denver Broncos debuts a new sack dance after taking down Philip Rivers (17) of the San Diego Chargers during the first half of the Broncos’ 17-3 win at Qualcomm Stadium. The Denver Broncos played the San Diego Chargers in a week 13 NFL game on Dec. 6, 2015. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Von-tastic. Outside linebacker Von Miller never doubted his skills, but the sack numbers weren’t there. He still remained confident that the break out game was coming. It came Sunday with two sacks, a forced fumble and recovery.

If you can’t stop him, hold. Defensive end Malik Jackson didn’t show up much in the stats (two tackles, two pass deflections), but he lived in the Chargers’ backfield with three QB hits and he forced three holding calls.

Bounce-back game. Receiver Demaryius Thomas admittedly had a rough game last Sunday against the Patriots with numerous drops, but he got back to his normal play with six catches on six targets for 61 yards and a touchdown.

WORSTS

Injuries. The Broncos’ came into the game down Peyton Manning, DeMarcus Ware, Sylvester Williams and T.J. Ward. Four more starters left the game Sunday against the Chargers and did not return. C.J. Anderson (ankle), Vernon Davis (concussion), Danny Trevathan (concussion) and David Bruton (knee). Health is becoming a big concern.

Nitpicking the defense. Chargers’ backs and tight ends had some success exploiting linebackers and safety in coverage due to missed tackles. Still, three points is hard to knock.

Not great, but enough. The Broncos’ offense didn’t have its best stuff Sunday. Read more…

The Broncos face the Chargers on Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium. Denver has won 14 consecutive AFC West road games. (Nicki Jhabvala, The Denver Post).

SAN DIEGO — Found it amusing watching the local news last night. The meteorologist detailed a forecast that called for temperatures between 76 and 83 degrees for this week. But wait, there’s a possibility, if only slight, of showers this weekend. Showers I say. Charge the battery in the truck. Launch Double Doppler radar. Showers!

I kid because I care. I love San Diego. Sunday provides another Chamber of Commerce afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium. I’d like to personally thank the NFL schedule makers for slotting this game in December when sunshine is embraced like a lost friend.

Can’t say I see the same love for the Chargers. It’s an awkward time. The Chargers have experienced an awful season as the possibility of moving to Los Angeles hangs over the franchise. They still have Philip Rivers, one of the league’s top passers and arguably the league’s top sanitized trash talkers.

Let’s look at the keys to the game:

Run, Broncos, Run
The Broncos established season-high in rushing yards in back-to-back games, both wins. It’s no coincidence Denver runs better with quarterback Brock Osweiler under center. As I detailed in a story in Sunday’s Post, the backs see the field better, and it makes them more decisive and instinctual on cutbacks. Even with guards Louis Vasquez (groin) and Evan Mathis (ankle) dealing with injuries, the Broncos should continue to run well. If Vasquez’s leg demands an exit like last week, Max Garcia will spell him. Garcia is going to play snaps regardless. The Chargers are allowing 4.9 yards per attempt. Nine of their last 10 opponents have eclipsed 100 yards. Look for C.J. Anderson to receive a few more carries than Ronnie Hillman with the Broncos finishing with 140 yards on the ground.

Slow Rivers in red zone
The Chargers can move the ball. Their 391 yards per game ranks sixth in the NFL. But they can’t run, leaving them one dimensional. The key is controlling Rivers in the red zone. San Diego averages only 22.2 points, 19th in the league. Tight end Antonio Gates and running back Danny Woodhead must be neutralized. With safety T.J. Ward out, the Broncos secondary must adjust. I would expect Brandon Marshall and David Bruton to predominantly guard Gates. Woodhead is slippery out of the backfield on passes that have hurt the Broncos this season.

Stay the Course, Brock
Brock Osweiler makes his third start. He has gone from an unknown backup to the cover of Sports Illustrated. Two things stand out: He protects the ball, and he can make all the throws. Sacks, however, are becoming an issue. He has been sacked 11 times in 10 quarters. That’s not good for his health and leaves his vulnerable to injury. Going forward, it wouldn’t hurt him to get rid of the ball sooner.

Osweiler will start this week at home against the Oakland Raiders. The following week, Peyton Manning might be in position to test out his injured left foot. It’s just speculation on my part, but I wonder if the final regular season game is a more realistic target for Manning. The more time he can rest his foot, the better. Gives him a chance to heal and be available for a role in the playoffs.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.